328 TABLE EQUIPMENT

TABLECLOTHS AND PLACE MATS

A good-looking table top, which has been made heat resistant,
needs no cover of any kind.

Expressiveness. Informality is the theme of most meals of
today; therefore tablecloths have been replaced by small mats.
Fabrics, fiber, tin, wood, cork, plastics, and string are employed
for mats, consequently they vary greatly in character. See pages
102 and 104. The monogrammed mats on page 336 are personal.

Large damask linen cloths are still used for formal occasions and
sometimes for buffet service. They are, however, difficult to pro-
cure and arduous to launder. Other formal covers are made of
embroidered linen, applique, lace, or cut work, in white, cream, or
very pale tints. Some designers think that lace is an unsuitable
material to place on wood; it is obviously incompatible with the
textures of copper, pottery, autumn leaves, zinnias, or fruit.

Color. In the average home it is well to use brightly colored
napkins and place mats or small tablecloths, especially if the glass-
ware and dishes are colorless. Some designers feel that snowy
white tablecloths and mats are unresponsive backgrounds for their
appointments and food and, decoratively speaking, consider them
as white elephants in most rooms. A woman who owns much
white linen should dye some of it pale yellow or other tints to
harmonize with the surroundings. The tablecloth sometimes acts
as a link in color between the table and the rest of the room.

Pattern. Decorative design is, of course, not necessary in table-
cloths or mats, but if patterns are used they should preferably be
stylized or geometric. See pages 334 and 336. Naturalistic motifs
are structural if they are concentrated in definite areas such as
borders. Stripes, plaids, polka dots, or simple borders are the
most attractive departures from plain tablecloths. Period designs
of merit, for traditional homes, are sometimes procurable. Plastic
mats on which pictures are reproduced are absurd.

The best tablecloth designs in lace work, drawn work, cut
work, or in other types of patterned cloths are those that follow
the lines of the table and are controlled and confined to small
definite areas. Some of the most structural lace designs consist
of small units containing solid areas. Most of the lace cloths can-
'.' not be considered background for they attract too much attention.